Virginia teen admits he’s behind pro-ISIS Twitter account

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A northern Virginia teen has pleaded guilty to providing material support to a foreign terrorist group.

Seventeen-year-old Ali Shukri Amin, of Manassas, entered the plea Thursday in federal court in Alexandria, appearing in a blue jump suit from Northern Neck Regional Jail. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Prosecutors said the crime involved helping another person travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group. Lawyer Joseph Flood says the crime consisted primarily of Amin expressing his views about the conflict in Syria. Before his arrest, Amin was an honor student Osbourn Park High School in Manassas.

Juveniles rarely face charges in the federal system, and the case remained under seal for several months while prosecutors navigated the process to have the charges moved into adult court.